The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-01-20
EXPERIMENTAL.
What is Going On in the De-
partments.
An Epitome of What Was
Learned at the Capitol
Yesterday.
ooMPTRoLLER's DEPARTMENT..

|
Following are brief extracts from the
biennial report OF Comptroller Swain;
! REVENUE.
Table No. shows the receipts from all
sources, and the expenses of the govern
ment paid from the treasury during the
two years.
The rate of taxation in force at the be-
ginning of the fiscal year, September l,
1884, from which the current expenses of
the state government were to be paid to
August 81, 1885, was for revenue pur-
poses seventeen and one-half cents on the
800 worth of property.
An examination of the revenue &C
count, Table No. L, will show
that: from that rate of taxa
ton, together with revenue from
all other sources Including the
balance on hand at the beginning of the
fiscal year,, the state received during the
year ending August 81, 1885, the sum Of
$2,064 222S9, and expended during thu
same time Including necessary trans
fers), the sum of $ 9,3S1.25, leaving in
the treasury August 81, 1885. balance
of revenue, $S4,S41.64.
1t will be observed by reference to the
revenue account that we commenced the
year with balance on hand, $145, 2382 6.
Received from the sale of state bonds
$200,000.00; from loans from sundry
special accounts, $45,936.41.
Deducting this amount from the total
receipts during the year, we have receipts
from the usual and ordinary sources of
revenue, $1,672,9S6,22, against expendi-
lures during same time, $1,979,381.25;
showing deficit of $306393O3.
During the year ending August 81, 1885,
in the current receipts of revenue from
ordinary sources, with the rate of taxation
at 1719 cents on the 500, as compared
with the expenditures during the same
time.
We commenced the next fiscal year, be-
ginning September l, 1885, with the rate
of taxation raised from III cents to 20
cents on the 500, by act of the legisla-
ture, approved March 81, 1885.
Making the same analysis of the revenue
account for the next year, beginning Sep
TENDER l, 1885, and ending August 81
1886, we find total receipts from all
sources, including balance on hand at the
beginning of the year, $2,198,S73.O4; ex-
penditures during the same time, $685.
4l0,14. Balance on hand August 81, 1886,
$563, 1920.
1t will be observed that during the Year
there were no receipts from extraordi-
nary sources.
Deducting the balance on hand at the
beginning of the year ($84,S41.64) from
the total receipts during the year
(S2, 1913, $1,000, we have total receipts
from ordinary sources of revenue,
$2,l14,031.40. Expenditures during the
same t,time, including proper transfers
$1.635, 410.14. Showing excess of re-
ceipts from ordinary sources of revenue
from rate of taxation at % cents on the
800 as compared with the expenditures
during the same time, $47S62l.16.
1t is believed that the present rate of
taxation will not only be sufficient to de-
fray the current expense of the govern
ment economically administered, but.
should there be no extraordinary appro.
priatiOn to be met, will enable the treas
ury to carry on hand a surplus of revenue
sufficient to meet any emergency. This
is as it should be. While a large and I'M
necessary surplus shonld not be boarded
in the treasury, still there should ALWAYS
be sure provision against suspension of
payments by the treasurer, though a small
surplus should remain idle In the
treasury.
Table No. 2 shows receipts and disburse-
ments of the available school fund for the
two years beginning September |, 1884,
and ending August 81, 1885, From this
table 1t will be seen that the state spends
annually for school purposes nearly one
million dollars more than is spent for the
current expenses of the government,
This fact suggests such law as will So. |
cure vigilant oversight of the manner
in which these expenditures are made in
the several counties, in order that the
proper authorities may be we'll informed
as to the disbursement of this large sum.
The permanent school fund has been
invested IN county bonds as fast as re-
ceived. The amount of bonds offered To
the board of education up to this time
has been largely in excess of the cash re-
celpts for investment.
Table No. 43 shows the amount of
county bonds purchased to August n
1856, and the several counties from which |
the purchases were made, with the rate of
interest the bonds carry.
RAILROADS.
The attention of ourexcellency is called
TO table No. 10, giving the reports of rail
road companies, under the requirement
Of article No. 42i5t revised statutes. These
reports are IN some particulars not sufll-
'ient IN detail to furnish the information
necessary to full understanding of the
OF the several companies. I